Ground staff at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium are preparing a spin-friendly pitch for the second Test between Pakistan and South Africa, reports said Thursday.
According to reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) pitch in-charge has spent the past three days working on the surface, saying the pitch would help spinner more than before and make the match more competitive.
Undated pictures flooding the social media also showed huge industrial fans drying the pitch, which, according to experts, will make it more conducive to spin bowling.
PCB Director of High Performance Aaqib Javed will visit Rawalpindi on Friday to inspect the pitch and review other arrangements.
Both teams will arrive in Islamabad Friday and start training before the second Test.
The second Test of the series will begin on October 20 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, and fans are eagerly waiting for the action.
Pakistan defeated South Africa by 93 runs at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday, taking a 1–0 lead in the two-match series. The visitors were bowled out for 183 while chasing 277 on the fourth day.
South Africa began the day with Ryan Rickelton and Tony de Zorzi at the crease, but Shaheen Shah Afridi struck early, removing de Zorzi for a duck. Tristan Stubbs soon followed, dismissed by Noman Ali for 23, leaving the visitors struggling at 55 for 3.
Pakistan’s bowlers dominated the innings. Shaheen Afridi and Noman Ali claimed four wickets each, while Sajid Khan took the remaining two to seal a convincing win.
Noman Ali emerged as the star of the match, taking 10 wickets in total — six in the first innings and four in the second.
Earlier, Pakistan had secured a 109-run lead after dismissing South Africa for 269 in reply to their first-innings total of 378. In the second innings, Pakistan scored 167, setting a target of 277.
South Africa reached 51 for 2 by stumps on the third day, but Pakistan wrapped up the remaining wickets quickly on the fourth morning to start their World Test Championship campaign in dominant fashion.